Fruit pitting chuck



3 Sheets-Sheet l March 18, 1952 G. w. AsHLocK, JR

FRUIT FITTING CHUCK Filed Nov. s, 195o INVENTOR. Geofye If/S//ac/M y, wmwmmmmmlm G. W. ASHLOCKL JR FRUIT FITTING CHUCK March 18, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 5, 1950 g?? INVENToR.

Y j George M a 'J aj 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 5, 1950 w Vv Patented Mar. 18, 1952 U N-llED f 1 PAT ENT .QFiE-LCEE FRUITPITTING CHUCK *George -As'hlockg Jrg Oakland; Calif.

: AllplicationfNovenber 3, 1950, Serial No.1193,927

This application is a .continuation-impart 'of my application Serial vNo. 112,960"le`d .August 27, 41949. .and of 'application Serial Al\Io.1169;6.91, filed June 22,1950- and now abandoned.

This invention relates toa.machine forremoving Ithe kstone. or pit .from .aj'fruit such as an olive, date, prune, Aapricotr plum, ory thelike.

The invention is` particularlysuited .to Lthe' removal of .the .stone froinan 'elongated fruit in which the stone is held tenaciously 4by.the"flesh of the fruit; whilethe. invention v'vill'be described as it has been practiced on olives, it uvv`ill^be readily apparentfto those skilled in the art'that the machine is. useful for `.the pittingo'f vprunes, dates and. other elongated fruit.

.It is-deSirabIe'to eifectremoval'of 'the stone or .pit froman'elongated: fruitthrough =an-end oflthe .fruit so that .a vminimunr'ofremoval-and disturbance "of the"eshoccurs. To this fend,

it "is' therefore essentialthat"theruit-befaligned.

so that 'a' knife or plunger can be-f brought -into contact "with "the ffruit" and `utilized to feiectthe pit from the v"fruit; thus, thev :knife or wplunger is moved over agpath coincident A-vvitlitheflongitudinal* axispfthe fruit,l fwhich axis.. sxalso coincident A`generally with? the longitudinaliiaxis of the stone.

f Tor thahandnng `oflfmut en.. azsrelativelyslarge scale, f it is essential i that the spitting operation be carriedy on relatively frapi'dly,` .and to ,this zend,

.This operation Was quiter'satisfactory upon fruit which was carefullygraded and which Was-not @unduly large. :Withrelatively' large fruitpior example, iolives :i of the tsoecalled f jumbor colossal 4"or super-colossalgrade, asithese `grades aref'def 4lined 'in `Section'870 ofithe'sAgricu-ltural ,Code -of the State 'of California,rthe fruitY would: frequently become .positioned with;itsz-longitudinalfzaxis l 1in a --horizontal1.planefand extendedzizacross the "top' Vof cavity ysofstably .'.that'1 itf wouldA :nottallfinto .place or alignment inthe cavity. --Upon advance of such. a. fruit. into vthe 'pitting' mechanismgthe latter would function automatically .withithe result that the pit would be shattered 'inthe fruit whereby pitjiragments. would begpresent in the .fruit and the .'.latter would' not vbe 0.0m-

pletely pitted.

In accordance with'the 'presentjinventionf I provide a novel cavity constructionl -suitedxto Vreception. :'of relatively elongated Jfruit vsuch` as ..01ives, jdates prunes and" the 'Sli-ke; of all `sizes sothatthese 'can be handIedin-one machine.

This I accomplish by^providing`the"cavityzofa double conical construction; that is, 'the'gu-pper initial fruit receiving "portion *ofytheareceptacle cavity' is` 1in the `form; of .'an' invertedmfrustum of a cone with' the wallsvat-a"relativelyilarge angle; l the cavity, however;1iscomprisedmaimy of another or. an -aligning"portionwpositioned beneath "the "first orl receivingfportionand in the'form of an inverted'frustumbfafconewith "the walls `therefor at, a relatively acutefangl'e.

` Thus, if aV ifruitbecomes^positioned-aeross the Vtop of bthe cavity, defined'A by the-relatively large angle tof a frustumof a cone; the *fruit l-ha`sf `little resistance "and "slipsreadilydnto place uponevif bration,- subsequently becoming #aligned Linl the acute, angled conoidal'-secticnmoffthe u'cavi-ty. As a result, thefruit, theJ stone# ini the ffruitf and theA longitudinall axis` of'- the cavity -are-'substan tiallyY in alignment. Thus, `to the handlinganf the fruit,v irrespective of theasize itl-iereof, l" itis only necessary f to feed `the fruit `-in-to 'the yfindividual Icarriers, as is disclosed in-1 mylRatent 2,250,518. The subsequentvibration 1'ofi-theehurier results win the' fruit becoming aligned-land,

whatv is"extremelyimportant, particularly `ini-the case ,ofpanf elongatedV` fruit such Iasanioli-vm.prune or date, `the relatively ulongffnarrow stoneais aligned with theaXis of the cavity so thatfsubsequently the stone is"-removed completely -andentirely and fragments thereof "are' not-left ini the fruit.

N'Utilization of a: i conoidali "cavity-having ithe Walls dening the'a'lignmentregion at arelatively acute angle to oneanother'presents` afispecial problem in 4thatthe pitting operation-in the. fruit being .jammed quite forcefullyintothetcavity with the resultlthat ,subsequent removal ofthe pitted fruit is relatively `diflicult. -`This' removal I have been` able to accomplish ,by hydraulic meanaspraying an extremely .nejet of a'suitable liquidI from a suitably, ,positioned nozzle on the fruit ltoeject thefpitted fruit fromthecavity. Thus, fit is .not Ynecessary to .use ,mechanical ngers or picker means which might bruise or inJure the fruit; at the same time the liquid washes away any fruit fragments; the fluid used can be water or a treatment solution such as a sugar solution, a flavoring solution or a preserving solution.

It is in general the broad object of the present invention to provide a novel form of mechanism for removing the pit from elongated fruit, olives, dates, prunes and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel chuck construction for the pitting and orientation of fruit.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein the present preferred form of mechanism of this invention is disclosed.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying this invention with portions thereof broken away to illustrate the construction employed.

Figure 2 is a section through the machine of Figure 1 showing the vibrating means employed.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate successive steps in the orienting of a fruit in the novel receptacle of this invention.

vFigure 6 is a plan view of the spray nozzle and manifold employed in removal of pitted fruit.

Figure '1 illustrates the pitting mechanism at the commencement of a pitting operation.

Figures 8 through 13 are fragmentary views showing the course of a pitting operation.

Figures 14, 15 and 16 are respectively sections through various specific forms of chucks embodying the present invention.

The machine of the present invention includes a suitable frame 6 made up of side plates 1 and 8 secured together by channels 9 and supported by legs II. At opposite ends of the frame are provided shafts I2 and I3 mounted upon suitable bearings in the side plates 1 and 8. Sprockets I4 and I6 are respectively provided on shafts I2 and I3, there being two sprockets in each shaft and the sprockets being positioned adjacent to the plates 1 and 8 to support two endless chains I9 which extend about the sprockets. The several links comprising the chains I9 each include an angle piece 2| thereon extending toward the opposite chain (Figure 2). To each angle piece is secured a flat base plate 22. Studs 23 secure each base plate to each angle piece 2| and serve to position about the base plate, in a spaced relationship, a top plate 21. Mounted in each top plate are several article supporting receptacles 28, to be presently described in detail, and which provide an article conveyor generally indicated at I0.

The upper run of each chain is supported, as it advances to the right in Figure 1, by a rst rail portion 3| provided by strip members secured to the side plates 1 and 8 and by a final rail portion 32 likewise including members secured to the side plates 1 and 8 and supporting the chains. An intermediate rail section 33 includes two opposite support rails 34 and 36 for the chains. At the right-hand end in Figure 1 these are secured together by plate 31 welded to each of the members 34 and 36. Plate 31 is secured by studs 38 onto a flat portion formed onto a shaft 39a; this shaft is rotatably mounted in Suitable bearings (not shown) on each of the side plates 1 and 8 of the frame 6; adjacent their other end a shaft 4I secures the rails 34 and 36 together.

Mounted upon shaft 4I is a roller or ball bearing 42 carried by side plates 43 which also serve to connect the bearing 42 to a bearing 44 mounted upon a drive shaft 46. Drive shaft 46 is supported for rotation in suitable bearings 41 mounted on each side plate of the machine. The drive shaft extends to a prime mover such as an electric motor (not shown). That portion 46a of the drive shaft which carries the bearing 44 is made about sie of an inch oif center with respect to that portion of the shaft 46 mounted in bearings 41. Upon rotating shaft 46 at about 1800 R. P. M. the connecting link, provided by plates 43, bearing 44 and bearing 42, between the drive shaft 45 and shaft 4I causes shaft 4| to be oscillated rapidly about the center of shaft 39. This serves to vibrate the supporting rail structure 33 for the endless chains. The importance of this vibration and its utility will be presently further explained.

Articles to be oriented are supplied by an endless feed conveyor I6I including apertured strips |62 moving over a skid plate |63 to the right in Figure 1 to release articles into a cooperatively positioned receptacle 28 on conveyor I0. Conveyor |6I and conveyor I0 are moved in a timed relation because the shaft |64 carrying sprocket |66, which supports the conveyor I6I, is driven from shaft I2 by a gear |61 thereon driving a gear |68 on shaft |64 (Figure 2). The feed conveyor is more particularly shown in my Patent 2,190,970.

`Means are provided for wetting the articles supplied for orientation. In the drawings (Figures 1 and 2), I have shown a header I1I connected to a suitable liquid source and having a pipe |12 extending therefrom over each row of the article receptacles 28. Suitable spray nozzles |13 are provided on each pipe |12 to spray liquid down onto the receptacles to maintain articles therein wet. Water, brine, an edible oil or other suitable liquid can be employed and can be otherwise supplied to maintain the articles and the receptacles wet while undergoing the orientation operation, as is disclosed in my Patent 2,308,038.

As appears particularly in Figure '1, each fruit holder 28 includes an upper tubular portion |2| slidable in plate 21 and a lower tubular guide element |22 slidable in plate 22. The holder is formed with an exterior shoulder |23 which abuts against plate 21 under the force of a spring |24 encircling the holder and compressed between plate 22 and the shoulder |23. Downward movement is limited by shoulder |26.

In accordance with this invention, the fruit holder is formed with a suitable interior configuration enabling an article therein to be positioned in a desired alignment. Thus, each fruit holder 28 includes an interior fruit receiving portion |25 and a fruit aligning portion |30. The portion |25 corresponds to an inverted frustum of a cone, the sides of which are at a relatively large angle to one another, one of the order of about 50 to about 90. The lower portion of the cone, the fruit aligning portion, also corresponds to an inverted frustum of a cone, the sides of which, however, are at a relatively acute angle to one another, one of the order of about 22 to about 44. The fruit aligning portion terminates in a section |35 which corresponds to a portion of a cylinder to provide a restriction or neck so that the vfruit is held firmly in the fruit alignment portion during pitting and does not pass; below the cylindrical section |35, the reassenza 51:5 eebt'acljfiarsoutwardly 'at'r4ofsofthatftheipit willpassthfroughreadily. j

jrneiarjgest diameter -if 'the pperportion |25 A mustbe edualto and i'spferably slightly greater than the major axis of lthe largest size of fruit Vto be handled;` obviously, smaller fruit can be handled readily and the smallest will fall readily intoplace. The heighth of' the two portions must also Vbe related to the largest size of fruit to 'be handled and I have fou'ndthat "the upperportion shouldhave a heighthfmea'sured along the cavityaxis offat'least about 15% to preferably abcut 30% of theminorfaxis Vof the fruit. The heighthof the upper portion is not too critical" in that the deeper this portion' is'made,`the more fit acts as a funnelandone can'xceed the 30% limitexcept as theA :use of a plurality ofsu'ch cavities vin a row may make'thenachine'inordinatelyuwide. A

Y The lower portion of the chuck'shouldhave a heighth of about 55% -to about 110% of the jmajor'axiseof the fruit. The angle betweenthe twor wall portions should also be coordinated so that thefruit passes readily into`the` lower portion and to ensure this the lower portion is preferably made at least 20 smaller.

lBy employing the chuck of this Vinvention the chuck lower'portion can bemade with its walls ata smallerv acute angle than has been possible heretofore. This imprcves the pitting operation, making pit removal more certain and resulting in "fewer u npitted fruit or broken pits. Preferably, 'the angle of the lower portion'is 30 or less; -I have employed chucks having the following-'wall angles:

chuck A B o 'D Upper portion degrees.. 50 50 60 90 Lower-portion. do. 28 24 30 28 Difference do. 22 26 30 62 'A- B o yD Upper Portion-Percent of minor axis 52 20. 7 52.0 17. 4 Lower Portion-Percent of major axis. 53. 4 75 73. 5 80 Pitting mechanism generally indicated at 50 is vmounted between opposite parallel vertically ex- 1 =tending side members 5| supported on frame 6 and joined together lby horizontal member 52 and rods extending through each side member 5I and secured thereto by nuts 54. Between the side plates is mounted a suitable means for moving the pitting mechanism with a reciprocating movement over the plane of the carrier structure I0 and, at the same' time, for anup and down -movement, so that the pitting mechanism moves Vto'ward and away from the horizontal plane of "the ,'afrier'structure` Illjas will presently be de- "scribed iii seran.

*A moturfandspeed "change `device-1t5flisfrimaneextended from-this about apulley orsprocket l8|! on ashaft 39 in'thepittingmechanism. VAnother belt or ch-ain/S'I'isfextended about a? pulley orsprock'etSB on'the shaft Bilanci aboutapulley or'sprocket (not shown) on shaft I3 so'that the pitting mechanism and the conveyor-l 0 are'moved in' a timed relationship. Shaft 39 vis the drive shaft forthe pitting mechanism and one can-reffertofmy Patents2,157,518 and 2,219,832 fordetails `ofthe means utilizedto impart the desired `motiontothe pitting structure and particularly to plungers which depend to support thepitting mechanism.

A `pla'te"`9|`is mounted upon' the extending ends of the vpl'ungers LI I vand extends' transversely across "the machine. `It carries a-plate 99 'whichf'supports' a plurality lof fruit cutting knives or plungers indicated generally at "92. These knives can? be arranged' inf'one` or more rows across the plate 99 and in' the machine illustrated *two roWsareemployed. The construction ofV the knives isshown in detail in Figure 7.

Each pitting knife is provided as a sub-assembly mounted in a cylinder93which is suitably retained in the plate. A'plunger 94 carries'the knife 92 for a reciprocating movement against the bias of spring 96, which is positioned between a head on the plunger and a disc 91 screwed intothe end' ofthe cylinder to retain the spring in `place and to 'serve asa guide for the hollow plunger ste-m which extends through plate-97. A rod 93 is screwed into the knife V`92 through lthe hollow plunger stem to retain the knife in place in the plunger 94. A broken knife is quickly replaced by holding knife 92 and rotating the vrod 98 to release the knife.

A plurality of coring knife sub-assemblies are mounted in plate structure '|38 which -extends across the machine. A coring knife structure is also provided comprising a sub-assembly |29' including a hollow tubular knife |30 in which a pit ejector |32 is slidable in a spaced relationship to permit the entrance 0f air so that any solid material in the coring knife'can be readily ejected by the ejector |32. The coring knife is threaded as at |33 into a nut |34 which is also positioned on threaded end |36 of guide |31 (Figure 7).

Each guide |31 is mounted in a guide bushing |35a in the plate |38. A spring |43 is positioned 'between veach Ynut |34 and plate |38'to provide for a resilient mounting ofthe coring knife. `The pit ejector |32 is supported in the base'structure generally indicated at |46; each ejector extends through the pitting knife to eject material in the knife, as will be presently described.

The pitting plungers and the coring knives are moved by the pitting head in a timed relation such that when the knives 92 are lowered, the

"coring 'knives Aare "raised so the two approach each other until they practically engage; in any case, they are brought together until the space between them is less than the length of the fruit stone to be removed so that the stone is held firmly between them. The core ejectors, however, are only moved by the pitting head so the coring knives reciprocate on these and the relative movement thus provided is effective to eject any core retained in the tubular knives. A suitable mechanism for achieving such movement is shown Ain my Patent 2,406,736. To strip any meat adhering to theplungers 9'2, a stripper is provided-made up of plate i8 which extends transversely of the "W f v"machine land-through #whichl the -knives' extend.

The coring knife can be made stationary and the plunger can force the fruit and receptacle down to it. However, this involves more travel for the plunger and receptacle.

To permit of ready removal of the fruit, I provide a conduit 20| having a plurality of nozzles 202 therein, each nozzle, as appears in Figure 6, having a central aperture 203 therein leading outwardly to a. slot 204. Each nozzle is positioned opposite the path of movement of a line of the carriers so that the spray from the nozzle fans out from the aperture 203 over a path defined by the slot and which is several inches in extent, such path being parallel and in the plane of movement of the apertures in the underside of the carriers. Upon supplying a suitable fluid to the nozzle under an adequate pressure, the latter sprays the fluid against the underside of the carriers with such force that the fruit is ejected from the carriers. Usually a pressure of 25 to 60 pounds suiices and I have successfully used a pressure of 45 pounds; water from the usual Water supply main can be used successfully.

The operation of the machine will become further apparent upon considering the following sequence of operation, particularly in connection with Figures 3, 4, 5 and 7 through 13. The description will be made as the machine is operated continuously. However, itis to be understood that it can be operated sequentially if desired, that is, instead of moving the pitting, coring mechanisms and the conveyor structure |0 continuously, the conveyor structure |0 can be moved to a pitting and coring position and brought to rest, the stoning, coring and pit-removing mechanisms operated, whereupon the conveyor mechanism is advanced. However, this sequential operation is not nearly so fast and continuous operation is usually greatly preferred.

In operation, conveyor IBI delivers the articles to the conveyor I0 in any position; referring particularly to Figures 3-5, an article such as an olive may be dropped into receptacle 28 so that it lies almost completely across the receptacle (Figure 3). With the walls of the receptacle wet, the rapid vibration to which the receptacle is subjected when it passes on to intermediate rail section 33 causes the article to slip out of engagement with the relatively blunt conoidal portion of the receptacle (Figure 4) and into a position wherein the article aligns itself with its major axis parallel to the major cavital axis of the receptacle (Figure 5). rIhe article is thus correctly positioned for its subsequent coring and pitting operation in conoidal portion |30.

It being understood that shaft 39 is rotated at a suitable speed, and that conveyor l0 is being operated in a timed relationship therewith, and that each receptacle 28 contains fruit in alignment, the fruit is advanced to the fruit pitting and coring station as appears in Figure 1. It will be noted in Figure 7 that the pitting plunger 92 and the coring knife are shown approaching the fruit in the receptacle 28 but that the fruit has not been cut by either. In Figures 8 and 13, it will be observed that the pitting plunger first engages the fruit, entering the fruit and engaging the stone to compress spring |24 and force the receptacle 28 down to the limit of its travel and until shoulder |26 engages the plate 21 to force the fruit into engagement with the coring knife and cut a core in the fruit. The cutting of the core in the particular machine disclosed is effected by movement of the receptacle 28 and movement of the coring knife. This enables the travel of the coring knife and of the receptacle to be kept to a minimum; the spring |24 regulates the amount of pressure which can be placed upon the fruit and so ensures that the portion of the fruit engaged with the sides of the receptacle is not bruised or otherwise harmed.

In Figures 8-13, the degree marks placed on each View indicate the relative position of the various parts shown following movement of the pitting mechanism and particularly rotation of shaft 39 through the indicated number of degrees from a Zero position, corresponding to that of Figure 7 wherein the coring knife and the pitting plunger are practically fully retracted. Referring to Figures 8-13, it will be noted in Figure 8 that the pitting plunger and the coring knife are shown approaching the fruit in receptacle 28 but that the fruit has not been cut by either. In Figure 9, following 10 of rotation of shaft 39, the pitting plunger has entered the fruit and the receptacle 28 has started to move down, compressing spring |24. This movement continues (Figure 10) and after '78 degrees of rotation of shaft 39, the receptacle has reached the limit of its travel, shoulder |28 on the carrier has engaged plate 2l, and the fruit is now engaged between the pitting plunger and the coring knife, the latter having started to enter and cut the core in the fruit into the stone. In Figure 1l, the stone is shown as firmly grasped between the pitting plunger and the coring knife, the pit resting on the circular open tubular end of the coring knife. At the instant that the core and the pit break loose from the fruit, spring |24 is effective to move the receptacle upwardly; in practice, the breaking loose of the core and pit is really effected by the tension applied by spring |24, the latter moving the receptacle upwardly to engage plate 21 with such rapidity that, in effect, the receptacle snaps back into its original position. The downward movement of the pitting plunger and coring knife is coordinated, as appears particularly in Figure 12, to move the pit and core out of the fruit, the pitting plunger and coring knife continuing downward until this is attained. Thereafter, the pitting plunger is removed or is retracted, this being indicated in part in Figure 13, after of rotation of the shaft. Complete retraction is secured after about of rotation of shaft 39.

The views shown cover the period from 50 to 120 of rotational movement of shaft 39. The remaining circular movement, that is, from 120 through 0 and to 20, covers the remaining cycle of operation, the only feature of which is the retraction of the coring knife and the pit removing plunger |32 to such an extent that the core and stone are rejected if they happen to still be retained in place under the coring knife. The foregoing is illustrative only and one need not employ the exact timing indicated.

The coring operation results in the fruit being jammed in the lower conoidal portion of the receptacle with such force that difficulty is encountered in removing the fruit. Since it is obvious that the receptacle must be cleared for placement of additional fruit subsequently upon return of the conveyor to position beneath the feed conveyor 6|, means are provided, in accordance with this invention, for removing the fruit from the receptacles 28. As has been described previously, this means comprises the spray nozzle 202 supplied with a fluid under sufficient pressure to cause effective removal lof the fruit jammed in the cavity upon the fluid 9 passing upwardly through the bottom of the cavity as the receptacles pass the nozzles, as appears in Figure 1.

From the foregoing, I believe it will be apparent that I have provided a relatively novel, simple and improved device for orienting and pitting fruit.

I claim:

1. A chuck for the orienting and pitting of an elongated fruit having a major and a minor axis, the chuck `comprising a receptacle having a cavity therein symmetrically disposed about itsy major axis and dened by an upper conoidal portion and a lower conoidal portion adjacent to said upper portion, said upper portion being in the form of an inverted frustrum of a cone and having its largest diameter approximately equal to the major axis of the fruit, with opposite cavity walls at an angle of from 50 to 90, said lower portion continuing and being of smaller diameter than said upper portion and in the form of an inverted frustrum of a cone with opposite cavity walls at an angle of :from 22 to 44 and at least 20 smaller than the angle included between the opposite cavity walls of said upper portion, the upper portion being of a heighth measured along said cavity axis which is at least about 15% of the minor axis of the fruit, the lower portion having a heighth measured along said cavity axis of at least about of the major axis of the fruit.

2. A chuck as in claim 1 wherein the cavity walls of the upper portion are at an angle of about 50 and the cavity walls of the lower portion are at an angle .of about 28.

3. A chuck as in claim 1 wherein the cavity walls of the upper portion are at an angle of about and the cavity walls of the lower portion are at an angle of about .30".

4. A chuck as in claim 1 wherein the cavity walls of the upper portion are at an angle of about and the cavity walls of the lower portion are at an angle of about 28.

GEORGE W. ASHLOCK, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,271,675 Ashlock, Jr. Feb. 3. 1942 2,314,862 Ashlock, Jr. Mar. 30, 1943 2,388,814 Ashlock, Jr. Nov. 13, 1945 2,407,126 Ashlock, Jr. Sept. 3, 1946 

